In the process, the Gauchos might have bolstered their playoff resume.

Banning seemed to control the first half, but then Narbonne started putting pressure on the Banning defense.

Finally, in the 66th minute, Mayra Cervantes took a nice pass from Stephanie Aguirre and fired it past Banning goalkeeper Karen Duarte, who suffered a potential season-ending knee injury trying to make the stop.

“I was scared – I didn’t think it was going in,” Cervantes said. “But Stephanie Aguirre made a great pass, and it went in.

“We were kind of sleeping in the first half, but in the second half, we woke up. We wanted to get them.”

Cervantes’ goal set up Gonzalez’s heroics.

The backline of Sujey Maldonado, Melissa Diaz, Arceli Zaragoza and Jennifer Lopez held its own against Banning’s final push.

Then Gonzalez gave Narbonne one last stand.

“It was really nerve-wracking,” Gonzalez said. “I was praying and praying and praying. I held my breath until the kick. I guessed right. I was going to the other side, then I changed my mind at the last moment.

“When my teammates mobbed me, I started crying. My heart was beating out of my chest.”

And Banning’s hearts sank.

But Banning coach Gustavo Ramos told his girls to hold their heads high. After all, Banning’s likely second-place finish is still the program’s best since the Marine League was established in 1999.

“We’re still second. We’re still doing well each game,” Ramos said. “It’s difficult, but you keep going.

“We’re going to play another game against Gardena on Friday, do our best, then we’re going to do our best at City.”

Narbonne played the role of spoiler to perfection. Ultimately, the Gauchos realized they helped rival San Pedro to a likely seventh consecutive league title and the Pirates’ 13th league crown in 14 seasons.

Justiniano said he saw San Pedro coach Gerhard Weber in the stands and added that Weber leaped in the air after Cervantes’ goal.